Trend of Eurovignette Directive on Road Use Charges for Heavy Goods Vehicles and its Implication for Japan

Abstract

The emerging EU resulted in increased heavy goods vehicle traffic and unbalance of payment of infrastructure costs. In 1999, an Eurovignette Directive was enacted to address the problem. In 2006, the European Commission started a study to surcharges to road freight transport. In October 2010, the Council reached an agreement to surcharge for air pollution, noise and by excluding the controversial congestion. We found implications for the expressway charging in Japan through the development of concept, levels and components in the scheme.